Berwins Salon North presents: Redefining Who We Are – Past, Present and Pixelated 🧠

Harrogate International Festivals.

I was delighted to be invited by Harrogate International Festivals to attend Berwins Salon North presents: Redefining Who We Are: Past, Present and Pixelated at The Crown Hotel in Harrogate. It proved to be an evening that sparked curiosity from the very start and left me thinking about it long after I headed home.

Bringing together Jenny Draper, Dr Alex Box, and Adam Farrer. The night focused on identity in all its strange, messy and fascinating forms. Together they explored where our sense of self begins, how it shifts over time and the many ways we might choose to reinvent it.

Jenny Draper opened the night with a vibrant dive into the often forgotten corners of history. As the author of Mavericks, she has a genuine passion for the rule breakers and misfits who slip through the margins. Instead of focusing on kings and queens, she shone a light on the ordinary people who left extraordinary marks on London. We later spoke about Ann Kingston, also known as Sabrina Sidney, whose life felt like a perfect example of history’s poetic justice. Jenny made the past feel playful and alive, a reminder that identity is shaped not only by who we are but by the stories we choose to tell.

Dr Alex Box followed with a exploration of beauty futurism, digital creativity and what it means to express ourselves in an increasingly hybrid world. She described the way she has become a human API, bridging the emotional world of make up with advancing technology. As the former director of Illamasqua, she spoke about the alchemy of understanding who we are and the trust involved when working so closely with a face. The first thing you look at in life is a face and the last thing you look at is a face. Make up, she reminded us, is never just paint. Although her talk had to be cut a little short, she left us with the idea that make up is dead, long live makeup.

Adam Farrer closed the evening with a thoughtful and often funny reflection on masculinity. As the author of Broken Biscuits and Other Male Failures he brought warmth and relatability to the theme of identity. He guided us through teenage bedrooms, uneasy friendships and the small defining moments that quietly mould how we see ourselves. His honesty and humour created an instant connection with the room and brought the night’s ideas back to lived experience.

The format really added to the enjoyment of the evening. Each speaker had around twenty-five minutes to share their ideas and the intervals in between created a relaxed atmosphere where we could grab a drink, chat with others as well as the opportunity to have your book signed.

Whether you turned up for the stories, the ideas or simply a good night out, it was the kind of event that stayed with you. I walked away feeling inspired, a little curious and glad I had been there.

Berwins Salon North host many events with Harrogate International Festivals throughout the year, and it is well worth keeping an eye on what is coming next. Take a look here.